Council President Arnie Fielkow, the Jeremiah Group, ACORN, All Congregations Together (ACT) and Executive Director of the Office of Recovery Management Dr. Ed Blakely hosted a listening session for displaced New Orleans residents currently living in the Baton Rouge area.

Councilmember-at-Large Fielkow said, "I know that many people are still considering whether to return to New Orleans, and it is up to the City to give them the information to make that critical decision."

New Orleans residents currently living in the Baton Rouge area attended the session to hear about recovery projects and share their stories and concerns with Councilmember-at-Large Fielkow and Dr. Blakely.

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In order to address the logistical and operational issues currently hampering the work of the Office of Inspector General (OIG), City Council President Arnie Fielkow held a meeting on Friday, April 25th with key stakeholders including Inspector General Robert Cerasoli, Chair of the Ethics Review Board Father Kevin Wildes and Chief Administrative Office (CAO) personnel Courtney Bagneris and Jay Palestina.

According to Councilmember Fielkow, several key decisions were made, including assurances by the CAO personnel that computers and phones for immediate hires would be available in two weeks and the remainder of the computers and phones for all staff positions would be available within 30-45 days.

In addition, the CAO personnel agreed to provide written monthly status reports to the Budget Committee on the status of the OIG and were designated as point persons to address any and all issues the OIG brings to the City in regard to logistical needs.

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District "B" Councilmember Stacy Head and Dr. Edward Blakely, Executive Director of the Office of Recovery Management, hosted a neighborhood biking tour to showcase the future and ongoing development of District "B."

Councilmember Head said, "The local residents that joined us on this biking tour provided great insight regarding future improvements they would like to see made in their neighborhood. It was also good to physically see the progress that has already been made in this district."

Members of the Freret Neighborhood Association joined Councilmember Head and Dr. Blakely as they toured the neighborhood.

The New Orleans City Council Education Committee, in partnership with the Scott S. Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives at Tulane University and the Greater New Orleans Education Foundation, officially released the 2008 State of Public Education in New Orleans report.

The report provides information regarding the progress of the current system of schools, based on available data, as well as public opinion. The report also identifies several challenges facing New Orleans public schools.

Council Education Committee Chair and District "D" Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell said, "We are very excited about the progress that has been made so far and look forward to addressing the remaining challenges. It is not only our goal, but also our responsibility, to improve public education for our children."

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To view the 2008 State of Public Education in New Orleans report click here.

The Council passed a motion authorizing retention of Special Counsel for itself, as well as a resolution supporting regional transportation plans. The Council also addressed healthcare challenges in the City and received a cultural report from the New Orleans African American Museum of Art, Culture and History.

Authorizes Retention of Special Counsel for the Council

The Council passed Motion M-08-186, co-authored by Councilmembers Carter, Midura, Willard-Lewis and Hedge-Morrell, authorizing and requesting the Council President to sign a professional services contract to retain Herman, Herman, Katz & Cotlar as Special Counsel to the New Orleans City Council.

Competitive Selection Committee Chair Councilmember James Carter said, "We are excited as a Council to make this announcement and look forward to working together with Herman, Herman, Katz & Cotlar."

Supports Regional Transportation Plans

The Council passed Resolution R-08-183, co-authored by Councilmember-at-Large Fielkow and Councilmember-at-Large Clarkson, in support of Regional Planning Commission (RPC) Resolution 08-2007.

RPC Resolution 08-2007 calls upon the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Louisiana Legislature to appropriate up to $20 million for the phased acquisition of approximately 12.0 miles of the East-West Corridor for future transportation purposes, consistent with the approved Metropolitan and Statewide Transportation Plans.

The East-West Corridor links the River Parishes, Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish to the New Orleans Central Business District. Various transportation studies conducted over the past thirty years within the East-West Corridor have concluded that highway and mass transit improvements are necessary to meet growing transportation mobility, travel demands, and evacuation needs.

Addresses Healthcare Challenges

The Dean of Tulane University Medical School, Ben Sachs, came before the Council to brief Councilmembers on healthcare challenges in New Orleans.

Sachs highlighted healthcare challenges, such as shortage of healthcare physicians in the future and hospital funding, to name a few. He also presented the benefits of implementing neighborhood health centers in New Orleans.

Councilmember-at-Large Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson said, "We as a Council want to ensure that we provide the highest quality of care for our region."

Receives Cultural Report from New Orleans African American Museum

Representatives from the New Orleans African American Museum of Art, Culture and History came before the Council to give an overview of the museum and introduce the upcoming exhibit "A Celebration of Faith: Henriette Delille and the Sisters of the Holy Family."

"A Celebration of Faith" pays tribute to the Sisters of the Holy Family, the second oldest Catholic religious order for women of color in the United States. The exhibit charts the order's establishment in 1842 in New Orleans and its ongoing charitable endeavors.

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Councilmember-at-Large Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, representing the Mayor and the City of New Orleans, travelled to Washington, D.C. along with Jefferson Parish Councilmember Thomas Capella, former St. Bernard Parish President Charles Ponstein, Plaquemines Parish President Bill Nungesser and St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis, on behalf of the Regional Planning Commission (RPC).

Councilmember-at-Large Clarkson highlighted priority issues for New Orleans, including full funding by the federal government of the 100-year flood protection plan.

The RPC representatives addressed the Louisiana Congressional Delegation as well as other congressional leaders to discuss the urgency of regional disaster recovery needs.

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District "B" Councilmember Stacy Head and Council Criminal Justice Committee Chair District "C" Councilmember James Carter held a press conference at the Sixth District Police Station to outline a Central City anti-violence community collaborative.

Councilmember Head said, "In order to fight crime we must empower people in the community with economic opportunities and development - including job fairs, youth programs and educational and recreational opportunities."

During the press conference, the Councilmembers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central City Partnership. The goal of the collaborative is to raise awareness of Central City criminal activity, create support for the Council's Criminal Justice Committee activities and continue working together with other community organizations, as well as the Sixth District Police.

Councilmember-at-Large Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson and District "C" Councilmember James Carter celebrated the beginning of the 25th annual French Quarter Festival (FQF) in the Second Line Kickoff Parade.

The Councilmembers paraded down Bourbon Street to Jackson Square along with community groups, live bands, festival participants and sponsors. Councilmember-at-Large Fielkow also showed his support and joined the other Councilmembers at the FQF kickoff in Jackson Square.

Councilmember Carter said, "French Quarter Festival showcases the culture and heritage of our unique City and celebrates the essence of New Orleans - great music, great food and celebration."

French Quarter Festival is the largest free music festival in the South and is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., a nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo Summer Fest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December.

Councilmember-at-Large Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson joined Lakeview residents as they honored WWII Veterans at the Harrison Avenue Marketplace.

"This is a wonderful event that not only honors those that have fought for our country but also demonstrates that Lakeview is back in full swing," said Councilmember Clarkson.

The Council unveiled an innovative streaming media project and passed resolutions and ordinances supporting the New Orleans Aviation Board, development of a youth sports complex at Six Flags site and New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) efficiency efforts and domestic violence prevention efforts.

Unveils Streaming Media Project

The Council's Cable and Telecommunications Committee unveiled Granicus - the new, innovative streaming media project that will increase public accessibility and track local government at work.

The goal of the Council through Granicus, the streaming media solution provider, is to develop a communications system to reach displaced citizens, streamline and make more cost effective the necessary government processes related to meetings, make the business of public meetings more transparent and make the actions taken at meetings more easily available to the public.

"By being more proactive and implementing this streaming media project, this Council is sending a strong message to the rest of the world - New Orleans' commerce and government are thriving and keeping citizens in the diaspora engaged in the recovery of their city," said Cable and Telecommunications Committee Chairman, Councilmember James Carter.

Supports New Orleans Aviation Board

The Council passed Resolution R-08-153, authorizing the New Orleans Aviation Board to undertake construction of a consolidated rental car facility.

Since Hurricane Katrina, during peak demand periods, there are fewer rental cars available than those requested by rental car customers.

The New Orleans Aviation Board, in conjunction with rental car companies, proposed to build a four-story consolidated rental car facility. The facility will provide rental car customers with space on the ground floor and three additional floors containing 2,600 rental car spaces.

Supports Development of Youth Sports Complex at Six Flags Site

The Council unanimously passed Resolution R-08-162, co-authored by Councilmember-at-Large Fielkow, Councilmember Hedge-Morrell and Councilmember Willard-Lewis, requesting that the New Orleans delegation to the Louisiana Legislature include sufficient development funding in the State Capital Outlay bill for a potential youth sports complex in eastern New Orleans.

The Council emphasized that a youth sports complex at the Six Flags site would be a potential economic development and recreation benefit for New Orleans and a catalyst for the recovery of eastern New Orleans.

The City has issued a Request for Proposals for a feasibility study for the development of a youth sports complex at the Six Flags site. The complex would be suitable for recreational and/or community-oriented uses that support the best and highest use of the land.

Commends Sheriff Gusman and NOPD Domestic Violence Prevention

The Council passed Resolution R-08-164, demonstrating its appreciation for Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman for his commitment to the support and protection of victims of domestic violence through the implementation of the Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS).

LAVNS enables domestic violence victims to easily determine when their abuser has been released from prison.

The Council also expressed its appreciation for NOPD Superintendent Warren Riley's dedication to the protection of victims of domestic violence through the implementation of accountability training.

Supports NOPD Efficiency Efforts

The Council passed Ordinance Calendar No. 26,924 to amend the Code of the City of New Orleans to add a section permitting the issuance of a written summons in place of custodial arrest for certain municipal offenses.

The Council also passed Ordinance Calendar No. 26,925 to establish a procedure for the issuance of a summons in response to traffic offenses for individuals who have outstanding traffic attachments, and to provide for various penalties to be assigned to individuals who fail to appear in traffic court.

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